Legislators commend $2.8 million factory grant

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., U.S. Rep. John Larson, CT-1, and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration for awarding a $2.8 million grant to help build a food-focused business incubator and manufacturing facility at the Swift Factory complex in North Hartford. The project - which will be called the Swift Community Food and Business Development Center - is expected to create 125 jobs and spur $9.75 million in private investment. North Hartford receives priority consideration for federal grants like this as a result of their Promise Zone designation. The nearly $3 million grant will build on the city’s Promise Zone initiative to create jobs and boost economic activity in the community.

“This major investment will help bring new life and vitality to the old Swift Factory - attracting new jobs and investment to the North End. These dollars help fulfill the promise by the federal government that it would be a true partner in bringing jobs and opportunity to the North End,” Blumenthal said.

“This is exactly the kind of investment North Hartford needs. This $2.8 million grant will help transform the old Swift Factory into new working space for Hartford businesses. It’ll create jobs and help spur more private investments throughout the neighborhood in the process,” said Murphy.

Larson added, “I applaud the work of Community Solutions and the North End of Hartford for building a new food and business development center at the Swift Factory complex.”

Community Solutions is the organization leading the project which plans to begin construction on the site within weeks.